Frederick K Allen

1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal

12th Manitoba dragoons

18th Armoured Car Regiment

11 October 1918 – 04 June 1996

Fred was born in the Rural Municipality of Stanley on 11 October 1918. He joined the 12th Manitoba Dragoons as a Trooper 30 December 1941 at age 22 and served with the 18th Armoured Car Regiment, driving an armoured car throughout his service. These vehicles were the leading edge of troop movement into towns and villages and were also used for reconnaissance. He served in England and Europe. During the liberation of Holland in 1945, he met Leny TenBos from Losser, Holland and after the war ended, they were married 22 December 1945. Freds unit was slated for return to Canada so he changed units while stationed in Holland to extend his stay but was eventually shipped home in April 1946. Fred was demobilized 18 March 1946 in Winnipeg.

Leny was advised the night before that the ship she was booked on would be leaving the next day. She along with many other War Brides left Rotterdam 28 August 1946 bound for Canada. She left her home and all the amenities of a city to go to a farm east of Thornhill with no electricity, no indoor plumbing, no central heating and roads that were all but impassable during the winter. Fred had warned her and she was not taken by surprise.

For about a month and a half Fred and Leny lived with his mother, which presented no real problem as Leny spoke English quite well. They then moved into the same house they occupied for the next 33 years. They eventually built a new home in 1980.

The Allen’s raised six children on the farm at Thornhill – three boys and three girls, Joan 1947, Theo 1949, Marlene 1951, Fred 1953, Marianne 1957 and Marcel 1958.

In spite of having a busy household and farm to operate, Fred served on several boards over the years, Manitoba Pool Elevators, United Church and Thornhill School Board and was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Morden Branch 11, for over 50 years. Additionally Fred drove School Bus for Thornhill and Morden Schools and very much enjoyed the friendship of the other drivers.

Fred and Leny enjoyed watching their children and later their grandchildren grow up. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary 07 October 1995 and Fred passed away 04 June 1996, a short seven months later. He was followed by Leny 27 June 2001 and daughter Joan 27 April 2018.

Fred and Leny were wonderful parents.

Information submitted by Theo Allen